So old man winter finally pulled through and we got a beautiful dusting of snow earlier this week! I was excited to have a reason to get out and shoot in the snow and had a great time capturing the property of West Manor Estate with its beautiful white blanket of snow. Below are a few of my favorite shots. It was such a beautiful morning!!
Thanks to Stephanie for capturing that last shot of us on the beautiful snow day! :)
There is something to be said about growing up in a small, country town. For one, I can seriously relate to all the songs ever written about small towns. Friday night activities included local high school football games or parties in random cul-de-sacs in new neighborhood developments. (Seriously.) Athletics was all we had to pass time after school, and boyfriends were passed around like gossip between middle school girls. (Again, seriously.) One of the best things about growing up in a small town is the closeness that naturally develops between classmates (especially when there is just one high school in the town). We all know each other. We have all known each other for years. Most of us grew up together (I'm talkin' the "I knew you in pre-school" deal). And no matter who you spent your time with in high school, you couldn't help but to develop some sort of relationship with each and every person you interacted with. (Be it positive or negative.) I remember going off to college and being surprised by the feelings that instantly flooded my heart when I unexpectedly ran into someone from home. There is a bond that develops between people who call the same place "home." It is undeniable... and to be surprised with that spark of familiarity is such a pleasant experience.
Since beginning my career as a professional photographer, I have had the awesome opportunity to photograph many of my old classmates and their spouses and children (many thanks to Facebook!). I love running into people I haven't seen in years and hearing about how different their lives are now. Learning the career paths that the wild neighborhood kids decided to take never fails to surprise me. Giving and receiving hugs from peers that I used to spend my summers with always makes my heart skip a beat.
I love that I get to experience those things. I love that I am a small town girl.
Last week my brother and I drove through our old neighborhood and passed the house we grew up in. Being in the area inspired me to get out and capture those scenes that make my heart skip a beat. So this weekend I spent some time capturing scenes that take me back home. Here are a few of my favorites:
This week, I am grateful that I was raised in a small town. I am a proud country girl. :)
Snow! The truth is, I love it. The last big snow I remember disrupting our lives so much was the "Blizzard of '96." And that was a long, long time ago. I always say I absolutely love living in Virginia because we get it all: snowy winters, green springs, too-hot summers, beautiful fall colors, the beach, the mountains, the valleys, the country and the city. It's all here in our wonderful commonwealth. Except... lately we've been missing out on some snow. Lately, as in, a lot of years have passed since there was enough snow for me to build a snowman with and enjoy it for more than one day.
Well I am not sure if you got the memo - but we aren't missing snow anymore!! :) I don't know if I attribute my love for the snow to snowy traditions and excitement that I grew up with - or the cozyness of a snow day in the middle of adult life. Probably both. Gosh... it makes me giddy. So, this is what, the third snow of the year? The first snow I got caught in and was no where near a camera to capture it. The second snow, I was in FL far, far away from it. But this one? Oh I got it this time.
I've spent most of my time yesterday and today cozied up in my home, hot drink in hand, with snow falling outside of my window onto the white landscape. Romantic, isn't it? Today I finally went out and played with my camera. I pulled out my new film and dusted off my film camera and only had the guts to take about 5 frames. Hah. Ah there's something about film that seems so permanent... and scary! And delayed - now I have to wait until I finish the roll (at this rate it could be a year before that happens) and have it developed to see those shots! Of course, I also had my DSLR with me that kept me plenty entertained while I was out there. Here are some of my favorite captures from today.
“Liz Cook is an incredibly talented and attentive professional. Her sweet and gentle countenance is paired with her ability to capture the most tender and joyful moments of the births that she photographs. Liz’s photos will bring you years of enjoyment as they draw you back to the delight and bliss of your birth experience.”